24 Frantic Hours: Photos Show the Trump-Comey Saga Unfold

Thursday, May 11, 2017

President Donald Trump's sudden decision to fire FBI Director James Comey on Tuesday, May 9, stunned the political world — the bureau was investigating possible ties between Trump's election campaign and Russia, meaning Trump is the first president to remove the person leading an investigation with ties to the White House since Richard Nixon.

Comey's termination arrived with little warning. A whirlwind exploded in the White House press offices, according to accounts from the press corps, the affair was greeted with bipartisan skepticism and wall-to-wall news coverage for which the president's team seemed unprepared.

In Washington, lawmakers are demanding evidence in the Russia investigation as the White House defends firing the FBI director. The Senate Intelligence Committee -- using its subpoena power for the first time since 9/11 -- demanded documents on Russia from fired National Security Adviser Mike Flynn.

"I don't have any evidence of collusion or a crime but the FBI needs to keep looking and do their job," said Senator Lindsey Graham, (R) South Carolina.